Bhagalpur, Bihar — October 20, 2025:
Tension gripped Bhagalpur’s Sanhaula area on Sunday morning after idols at a local temple were found damaged, sparking violent protests and clashes with the police. The situation turned volatile as angry residents poured onto the streets, pelting stones and demanding immediate action against the culprits.
According to police officials, one person has been arrested in connection with the vandalism at the Shiv Shakti Temple located near a pond in the Sanhaula police station area. The idols of Bhagwan Ram, Mata Sita, Lakshman, Radha-Krishna, and Durga Maa were reportedly desecrated during the attack
Early Morning Outrage
The incident took place between 4 and 5 AM, when the temple priest discovered the damage and alerted the villagers. Within hours, hundreds of locals gathered, blocking the Sanhaula–Jharkhand road with burning tyres and chanting slogans. Police forces rushed to the area as the crowd turned hostile, forcing officials to resort to lathi-charge and even fire warning shots in the air to control the situation
.Visuals aired by Zee News showed chaotic scenes of stone pelting, police baton-charging the mob, and angry locals confronting officers. DSP Shivnandan Singh confirmed that the accused had been detained and assured that the damaged idols would be reinstalled soon. He added that law and order had been restored and urged citizens not to fall prey to rumors .
Political Reaction and Communal Sensitivity
The vandalism gained political traction after Union Minister Giriraj Singh’s Hindu Swabhiman Yatra had passed through the area just a day before the incident.
Several leaders alleged that the vandalism was an attempt to disrupt communal harmony and polarize voters ahead of Bihar’s 2025 Assembly elections Speaking to reporters, Singh called the episode “a conspiracy to destabilize peace in Bhagalpur.”
Opposition leaders, meanwhile, accused the ruling camp of using inflammatory language and failing to maintain harmony in an already polarized state.Police Maintain Heavy DeploymentIn the wake of escalating tensions, police have conducted flag marches across sensitive zones in Bhagalpur. District authorities held meetings with peace committees and local community leaders to appeal for restraint. Officials have reiterated that the main accused acted alone, and that an investigation is underway to determine whether a wider conspiracy was involved .
Community Appeals for Calm
Local religious leaders from both Hindu and Muslim communities have called for peace, emphasizing unity in the face of provocations.
The Bhagalpur administration stated that “the situation is completely under control” and security personnel remain stationed across the district to prevent any further escalation
Author: BiharlocalDesk
ASAIN TIMES NEWS NETWORK
